Philippines: Military officers attend course on humanitarian law

12-04-2005 News Release

This press release has been issued by the ICRC delegation in Manila

Manila, 12 April 2005 - ICRC: Some 20 training officers and operational commanders from various branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines attended a course on international humanitarian law organized jointly by the Philippines’ Southern Command and the ICRC from 5 to 7 April 2005 at the Command’s headquarters in Zamboanga City. One of the six unified commands in the country, the Southern Command has been extensively involved in ongoing military operations in Mindanao and in recent clashes on the island of Jolo in the Sulu archipelago.

The course focused on the rules of humanitarian law applicable in non-international armed conflict, internal disturbances and situations of internal tension. Participants were also informed about the ICRC’s working procedures in conflict areas. Courses of this kind help participants to take into account applicable law in field training exercises, and also promote better understanding and acceptance of the protection and assistance work carried out by the ICRC and the Philippine National Red Cross to help civilians.

Personnel from the Philippine Military Academy and the Northern Luzon Command received instruction in international humanitarian law in December 2004. The ICRC has been supporting Philippine efforts to incorporate humanitarian law in training programmes of its armed forces since 1987. The Philippines has been party to the Geneva Conventions since 1952 and to Additional Protocol II since 1986.